Yesterday, concerned community members assembled inside Labor MP Janelle Saffin’s office in Lismore, joining a wave of Australia-wide actions demanding an end to the arms trade, comprehensive sanctions, and the severing of all diplomatic ties to Israel.
Community members delivered a letter and asked for a meeting with Ms Saffin to discuss Labor’s next steps on what the United Nations this week has confirmed to be a genocide unfolding in Gaza.
The group presented letters calling the state member for Lismore to take stronger action. They highlighted surveys showing that 81 per cent of Labor voters believe that the government should do more to enable the provision of adequate food, water and medicine in Gaza.
The protest group is demanding:
1. A definitive halt to the two way weapons trade inclusive of component exports from all NSW factories to Israel. This includes companies manufacturing crucial components for the F35 program, such as BAE Systems, Bluescope Steel, HiFraser Group, HTA, Lintek, Quickstep and Varley.
2. An immediate cessation of all NSW‑based companies that partner with Israeli defence firms, including Thales, which partners with Israeli Aerospace Industries (IAI), and Elbit, producing weapons used by the IDF such as guided missiles and killer drones.
3. The cutting of all financial and diplomatic ties; expelling the Israeli ambassador and recalling the Australian Ambassador in Israel.
During the occupation of Janelle Saffin’s office foyer, quotes and poetry from friends in Gaza were read aloud, followed by songs of mourning and condemnation.
The group left behind baby shrouds covered in fake blood as well as information flyers and posters as part of their effort to draw attention to the genocide and what they described as Labor’s ongoing complicity.
Collective slaughter
Local grandmother and member of the group Miriam said, ‘What is happening to the children of Gaza is abhorrent. We are witnessing the brutal and callous collective slaughter of Palestinian children and the intentional starvation of Gazan, men, women and children, en masse.
‘The Australian government must do more. What will it take for the government to stop exporting weapons, weapons components and high tech equipment to be used by the IDF against Palestinian people?’
Another member of the group, Myki, said ‘Every day my friend in Gaza worries for his elderly parents and three young children who have nowhere safe to go. This is the reality for millions as Israel’s assault intensifies. Civilians are trapped in a humanitarian catastrophe while access to food, shelter and medicine is denied.
‘He tells me, “The bombing is intense and I haven’t found a tent or means of transport… I am very afraid for my family.” These are human beings with families just like ours, and my heart breaks every day for them. We must be doing more.’
The group have asked for a meeting with Janelle Saffin to further discuss their concerns about the ongoing genocide and what Australia could do to end its complicity.
For four decades The Echo has printed the stories some people loved, some people hated, and some pretended not to read. If you want us to keep telling the truth, the real truth, not the sugar-coated version. We’ll need your support to keep the presses rolling. 
